I know it's not like limbo, pH too low?

[QuodHominem]

Why do you always meet us only when there's a problem?
Yes, first post... Halp Please?

I have a youngin' in soil and orchid moss (2/3 potting mix, 1/3 perlite, some? moss) and I think I've got a low-pH problem.

I've got a couple days pH measurements
1. Feed @ 6.8; Runoff @ 5.2
2. 1/2 Feed @ 7.0, 1/2 Distilled @ 8.2; Runoff @ 5.0

Yikes! And a leaf discoloration with light edges and dark veins. Double yikes!
(pic link: Snapshot20080909-001.jpg)

So I looked through the nutrients faq and figured that I might have low calcium, or at least low pH (duh, it's like cofee in there).

Today, I fed lightly with a solution of Pennington Fast Acting Lime--tsp to quart (I couldn't find Dolomitic Lime in less-than-huge quantities, but this claims to be mostly calcium carbonate).

This feed came out as follows
Feed @ 8.8; Runoff @6.3

Right now I'm planning to run distilled only on the next feed and check the runoff, but I've got a couple of questions....

First, am I off base thinking it's a calcium linked deficiency (locked fe or mg)?

[edit: Duh. Thanks to Stinky's sticky about soil runoff I know it's 6.3-6.8 for soil :thumbsup:] Second, what pH should I be looking for in soil (with these drops during feed, I figure it must be 4.8 in there)?

More posts to come, hopefully in happier forums!

QuodHominem Reviewed by QuodHominem on 09-10-2008. I know it's not like limbo, pH too low? Why do you always meet us only when there's a problem? Yes, first post... Halp Please? I have a youngin' in soil and orchid moss (2/3 potting mix, 1/3 perlite, some? moss) and I think I've got a low-pH problem. I've got a couple days pH measurements 1. Feed @ 6.8; Runoff @ 5.2 2. 1/2 Feed @ 7.0, 1/2 Distilled @ 8.2; Runoff @ 5.0 Yikes! And a leaf discoloration with light edges and dark veins. Double yikes! Rating: 5

[Weedhound]

Well first transplant that thing into a new pot with some good fresh quality soil and if you ph your water or nutes to 6.2-6.8 BEFORE YOU WATER YOUR PLANT you should end up with a lot less troubles than you have going right now.

A good quality soil will buffer your ph, keep your roots, happy, give your plant needed nutrients and make your job a LOT easier!!

[stinkyattic]

No orchid products EVER. They like a pH MUCH MUCH lower than pot.

Flush well with water at pH ~7.5 (pH up, like potassium hydroxide from the hydro shop) until the runoff is 6.8, and then re-pot into correct potting mix that has a bit of lime in it, either pre-packaged like promix or add it yourself.